How to Set Up Your Own VPN Server at Home (4 Methods)

In this guide we have talked about setting up a VPN server, but we also touch upon VPN clients.

So, what’s the difference between the two?

Both a VPN server and a VPN client are required to create an encrypted VPN tunnel.

The VPN server is at one end of the tunnel, and the VPN client at the other.

The VPN client initiates the connection with the VPN server and authenticates itself before being granted access to the virtual private network.

While VPN servers can accept connections from many clients, a VPN client can only establish a connection with just one server at a time.

You install VPN client software on the device that you want to connect to the VPN server.

For example, on your Android smartphone that you want to use securely on public WiFi while out and about.

Internet traffic from the VPN client device (e.g. your Android smartphone) is routed through the encrypted VPN tunnel to the VPN server, whether that’s a server you have set up at home, or one belonging to a VPN service provider.

The VPN server enables hosting and delivery of the VPN service, and also masks the VPN client’s IP address with one of its own.

So, if you connect to a VPN server located in your home, your web activity will be associated with the public IP address of your home network, even though you’re not physically located there yourself.

In this guide we showed you how to set up a VPN server at home, but if you need help setting up your device as a VPN client, check out our VPN installation guides.